Former India batter Ambati Rayudu has stated that he was not surprised by India‘s 0-2 T20I series defeat to Ireland. He attributed the loss to inadequate preparation for the challenging conditions encountered after the Indian Premier League (IPL) season.
India, led by Shreyas Iyer, experienced a series whitewash, losing the second T20I by one run in Belfast. Rayudu noted that the team struggled to adapt to the slower, two-paced surfaces in Ireland, a stark contrast to the batting-friendly pitches typically seen in the IPL.
Rayudu, who played 55 ODIs and six T20Is for India, explained that transitioning from flat tracks to spongy wickets with lateral movement is always difficult. He observed that many players are accustomed to fast bat-swings, and the control of the down-swing becomes a significant concern on different surfaces.
Tilak Varma’s Batting Challenges
Ambati Rayudu specifically pointed out areas where India vice-captain Tilak Varma needs to improve, despite his score of 55 in the second T20I. Rayudu highlighted that Varma’s game against slow bowling on slow surfaces has been a struggle for some time.
According to Rayudu, Varma faces difficulties in increasing the tempo when the ball does not come onto the bat. He suggested that Varma’s reluctance to use his feet against spin bowling limits his scoring options, particularly on slower tracks. Rayudu mentioned that Varma prefers to access the square boundaries, which requires the ball to come on well to the bat.
Rayudu also noted that Varma does not sweep on the pitch of the ball and does not play many shots in a conventional manner. He believes that if Varma improves this aspect of his game, raising the tempo will naturally follow as a by-product.
The former batter stressed that Varma needs time to develop this part of his game. He added that Indian players often do not get sufficient time between series to work on their batting, which can lead to struggles in adapting to varying conditions.
Patience Advised for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Regarding the discussion surrounding batting talent Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ambati Rayudu advised against rushing him into the national side. Sooryavanshi was not included in either of the matches against Ireland.
Rayudu emphasised the importance of giving seasoned openers, who have performed well and won the World Cup, ample opportunities. He believes that Sooryavanshi is currently gaining valuable experience by being part of the Indian team dressing room, learning about expectations and his potential role.
He stated that these experiences on tour will ultimately help the youngster. However, Rayudu would not rush Sooryavanshi into a bilateral series simply because India lost a couple of games.
Sooryavanshi is anticipated to make his debut at some point during the ongoing tour of the UK. The tour is set to continue with T20Is in England starting on July 1.
Looking Ahead to England Series
Despite India‘s disappointing results against Ireland, Ambati Rayudu is not overly concerned about the upcoming five-match T20I series against England. He believes that the conditions in England will present a different challenge.
Rayudu suggested that the pitches in England are far better than those encountered in Ireland, which he expects will be more suitable for India‘s batting style. The first T20I against England is scheduled for a future date.
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Source: m.rediff.com
